Mechanism for maintaining the registry of a web in relation to apparatus for working on such web



Ma 1965 M. HIRSCHEY 3, 72,322

MECHANISM FOR MAINTAINING THE REGISTRY OF A WEB IN RELATION TO APPARATUS FOR WORKING ON SUCH WEB Filed Nov. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 \QF, I x /-I /v i 9 9 Q P B Q INVENTOR. L E Q Q MALCOM HIRSCHEY,

ATTORNEY March 9, 1965 M. HIRSCHEY 3,172,322

MECHANISM FOR MAINTAINING THE REGISTRY OF A was IN RELATION TO APPARATUS FOR WORKING ON SUCH WEB Filed Nov. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II'IIIIIIIH FIG-3 F1614} FIGS 34 TH as 43 l [I42 41 4o INVENTOR, MALCOM HIRSCHEX ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Oftice 3,172,322 Patented Mar. 9, 1965 3,172,322 MECHANISM FOR MAINTAWING THE REGISTRY OF A WEB 1N RELATIGN T APPARATUS FOR WORKING ON SUCH WEB Malcolm Hirschey, Woodhridge, NJK, assignor to Twixt, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 236,268 7 Claims. (Cl. 83205) The present invention relates to apparatus which needs to maintain a web in proper registry in relation to other mechanism which is to do some work on such web, and hence the web has equi-spaced holes therealong for engagement by .a sprocket. This invention is employable not only in installations where the web runs continuously, but is especially adaptable in machinery where the web is stopped periodically for work to be done on it. In fact, I have chosen a machine that has the web moving intermittently, to explain this invention, for in such, this invention operates while the web is running and while it is stopped, and is also associated with the mechanism which makes the web stop.

An object of this invention is to provide novel and improved means to maintain a web in proper registry in relation to other mechanism, utilizing a sprocket roller whose teeth engage equi-spaced holes in the web in precise fit, but allowing nothing to occur which would damage the web to undo such precision fit, and in instances where the web is to be periodically stopped to have work done on it, the web will always be in true register, because web feed between stoppages will always be equal and such feed is not done by the sprocket roller teeth. This permits working with even very thin webs, as for example those used to be made into printed slips for insertion in fortune cookies.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved means to assure true registry of a web in relation to apparatus which needs to deal with it and such registry is not to be disrupted by web movement and stoppages which need occur for work to be done on the web.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved means for intermittently moving a web a precise amount which is always equal.

Still another object thereof is to provide a novel and improved registry-assuring mechanism of the character described, having the mentioned attributes, which is simple in construction, reasonable in cost and efiicient in carrying out the purposes for which it is designed.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this disclosure proceeds.

For one practice of this invention, I have shown it embodied in hole-punching apparatus for providing a web with equi-spaced holes. Here, a paper web from ofl? a slightly-braked supply roll, is led between the dies of a hole-punching press adapted at one storke, to punch a series of equi-spaced holes. Of course, the web is at rest during such punching operations and needs to be moved a precise amount between such operations so that the distance between successive sets of holes punched shall be the distance between successive holes of a set. So I provide that after leaving the press, the web straddles an idler sprocket roller whose teeth fit into successive holes which have already been made in such web. Idler rollers, before and after said sprocket rollers, are so arranged that they maintain the web about the greater part of the periphery of said sprocket roller. Thence, the web passes between a pair of nip rollers, one of which is power-driven and the other is spring-biased to slip on the web when the web is held at rest during the respective punching operations. Provision is made that during each punching operation, the sprocket roller is automatically held against rotation and the web is fixed thereagainst. At no time will the web turn the sprocket roller because of its engagement with the teeth thereof, for I provide that in conjunction with said sprocket roller, there is a companion nipping roller having clearance for these teeth. Only the tight engagement of said mated rollers with the web, causes such rollers .to rotate when the web moves. The web exerts no force on the sprocket teeth. Said mated rollers are both idlers with gears in engagement.

The idler sprocket roller and its nipping roller mate, with or without the other idlers mentioned, may be used in many installations, as for instance in printing and cutting apparatus which work on a web having equispaced holes therealong for engagement with a sprocket to attain registry. In installations where the web is moving continuously, the stop mechanism is omitted. Where the web moves intermittently so that work may be done thereon at .a fixed station therealong, the stop mechanism is included.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing an embodiment of this invention in a machine for punch-- ing equi-spaced holes in a web.

FIG. 2 is a section taken at line 22 in FIG. 1, with parts omitted in order to attain clarity of illustration. In particular, this view shows the idler sprocket roller with its associated idler rollers, and also the powerdriven roller which in association with its companion nip roller, feeds the web through the machine.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the sprocket roller in association with a roller of modified construction.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the rollers of FIG. 3, lengthwise.

FIG. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electrical circuit including the motor which drives the machine, and the solenoid which shifts the stop arms to stop and release the sprocket roller.

In the drawings, I have shown an embodiment of this invention in a machine to punch equi-spaced holes along a web 15, utilizing the holes already punched to register the web in proper relation to the punches 16 of a holepunching machine indicated generally by the numeral 17. Here, the numeral 18 designates an idler sprocket roller whose equi-spaced teeth 19 are to fit in the similarly spaced holes made in the web. The Web comes off the slightly-braked supply roller 29, passes between the punching dies of the press machine 17, thence behind the idler roller 21 and around the greater part of the periphery of the sprocket roller 18 and then in front of the idler roller 22, from whence it is directed between the nip rollers 23, 24, one of which is driven from the powered shaft 25 and the other is spring-loaded to slip when the web is stopped. The web is taut and holes already made therein, have sprocket teeth 19 fitted therethrough. Said sprocket idler 13 is one of a pair of nip rollers; its mate being the idler roller 26 which has cut-outs 27 to clear the sprocket teeth. Said rollers 18 and 26, on their shafts, carry the gears 28 and 29 fixed thereto respectively and in meshed engagement so that when the sprocket roller 18 turns, its mate 26 will also turn. The web 15 is between said rollers 18 and 26.

The ram 30 of the press 17, is spring-loaded to move upwardly to a normal rest position against the stop 14 on the press frame. Such ram carries the cam follower 31 for coaction with the cam 32 which is fixed on the powered shaft 25. During each revolution of said cam 32, the ram is brought down once and returns to its normal raised rest position. Said shaft 25 also carries the cam 33 which operates the micro-switch 34 controlling the circuit of a solenoid 35 mounted on frame, whose spring-loaded armature 36 moves a swingably mounted stop arm 37 which 3 cooperates with a stop pin 38 extending laterally from an end of the sprocket roller 18. When said arm 37 intercepts said stop pin 33, that is, when the solenoid circuit is open, the sprocket roller 18 is held against rotation in the direction it revolves when said arm is away from said pin. Said switch 34 is normally closed in the set-up shown, so said arm 37 is away from the stop pin 33, as shown in position indicated by the numeral 37'. The cam 33 is arranged to open said switch, thereby causing said arm to intercept the stop pin, while the press 17 is operating, that is, while the ram 3%) is away from its normal upward rest position.

It is to be especially noted that when the web is being moved by action of the nip rollers 23, 24, that the web movement causes the nip rollers formed by 13 and 26 to rotate. There being a constant clamping action on the web by said nip rollers 18, 26, there never occurs any drag by any of the sprocket teeth 19 which merely serve to maintain registry and not to move the web. The punched holes are maintained intact with never a damage in the web. Heretofore, the web got out of registry becauce of unpreventable enlargement of the punched holes when engaged by sprocket teeth which drove the web. The slightest deviation from punched size is impossible to happen in this mechanism, because the mentioned clamping action is ever present, even when a sprocket tooth enters a clearance 27 in the roller 26.

This manner of maintaining a web having equi-spaced holes therealong, in true registry for work to be done thereon, is employable in many types of machinery. As a specific showing of its use, I have shown it incorporated in a hole-punching apparatus as in FIG. 1, where I have furnished it with a stop mechanism for use where the web 15 need be at rest for work to be done thereon by for instance the reciprocating ram of a hole-punching press 17. That is, in an apparatus where holes already punched in the web register it to have such web furnished with equi-spaced holes therealong; the web having no holes when fed to the machine.

In the machine of FIG. 1, the distance between any successive pair of the series of equi-spaced teeth 19 of the sprocket roller 18, is equal to the distance between any successive pair of the series of equi-spaced punches 16 of the press 17, and said sprocket teeth are to slidably fit successive holes performed by said punches in the web 15. Further, the location of the sprocket roller 18 is in such relation to the end punch 16', that a taut web through the machine of FIG. 1, still engaged by the punches upon the downward stroke of the ram 30, will have sprocket teeth slidably fitted in holes already punched therein by said punches.

In the circuit diagram shown in FIG. 5, the motor which drives the main shaft 25, is indicated by the numeral 39, and a current supply from the main power lines 40, 41 is supplied thereto by closing the switch 42 when the machine is to operate. Also across said power lines is the coil of the solenoid 35, controlled by the normally closed switch 34, and it may need a resistance 43 in series therewith.

A lead portion of the web off the supply roll 20 is manually guided in the press 17 and the press edged to provide a suificient length of perforations to enanble the web to be threaded through the machine a bit beyond the nip rollers 23, 24. The machine is now ready for operation, so the switch 42 is closed.

In operation, the extent of feed of the web 15 by action of the nip rollers 23, 24, while the stop arm 37 is away from the stop pin 38, is so designed that the hole made in the web by the first punch 16" shall reach the position which is spaced beyond the last punch 16', the distance between any two successive punches. When the web has been so pulled, it instantly stops because the cam 33 has opened the switch 34 and the solenoid 35 becomes deactuated, whereupon the stop arm intercepts the stop pin 38. When the web stops, the spring-biased roller 24 merely slips on the stopped web. Now the press 1'7 operates because the cam 32 will bring the ram 30 down, and the springs 44 will then bring said ram up, whereupon the cam 33 will allow the switch 34 to close, thereby freeing the sprocket roller 18, whereupon the nip rollers 23, 24 will again pull the web 15 to present a fresh web portion to the next punching position. Thus, the cycle continuously re peats itself. It is to be noted that the amount of web feed is the same in each cycle of machine operation. Due to the ever present clamping action on the web by the coaction of the rollers 13, 26 and the total avoidance of any drag or damage at the holes in the web, the latter may be a very thin paper and true registry will persist. Where the web is of thicker stock, then instead of constantly contacting the idler 26, one line 26' may be used, having the longitudinal peripheral sections or segments 26 of one cylindrical surface; the remainder of the body of such roller 2' being inward of such one cylindrical surface. Here, nipping action occurs only at the region of a hole in the web and such of course would occur when the sprocket roller 18 is stopped by action of 37 on the stop pin 38, where it is necessary to protect maintainance of hole size and shape because of the slippage pull exerted by the feeding nip rollers 23, 24. The numeral 27' denotes the spaces in the roller 26' in such segments, to admit teeth of the sprocket 18.

Consider for the moment that the appliance 17 is one to do work on the web while the latter is at rest; the web in such instance, being already provided with the equispaced punched holes. In such set-up, the unit comprising the sprocket roller 18 and its associated idlers 21, 22, 26 and the stop mechanism 35, 37, 38, may occupy the position of the roller 46 at the entrance end of the machine. In various installations, one of such units may be at such entrance end and another after the appliance 17 as shown specifically in FIG. 1; both such units being controlled by the same cam 33 and switch 34, which is readily understandable to those versed in the art without further illustration. Then again, in machines where the perforated web is running continuously, said unit or several of them in proper spaced relation, may be used to maintain registry and protection of the web, in relation to associated apparatus, in which instance, the stop means is omitted.

This invention is capable of numerous forms and various applications without departing from the essential features herein disclosed. It is therefore intended and desired that the embodiments shown herein shall be deemed merely illustrative and not restrictive and that. the patent shall cover all patentable subject matter herein set forth; reference being had to the following claims rather than to the specific description herein, to indicate; the scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. For an apparatus which is longitudinally moving a web having equi-spaced perforations therealong, first and second revolvably mounted, parallel idler rollers, means.

associating said rollers whereby on the rotation of the first roller, the second will also rotate; said web being' between sald rollers and resting against the first roller;- said first roller belng cylindrical and having teeth equi-- spaced therearound whereby said first roller serves as a sprocket whose teeth slidably fit in holes in said web as: the web moves along; the second roller having spaces therein to receive said teeth as said roller rotate; the periphery of the second roller including longitudinal segments of one cylindrical surface; said spaces to receive said teeth, being in said segments respectively; the remainder of the periphery of said second roller being inward of said one cylindrical surface; the web being engaged by said rollers as it would be by nip rollers, only when it is contacted by a segment, whereby the web is maintained so that every hole therein having a tooth of the sprocket therethrough, remains unchanged in size and shape.

2. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, including third and fourth rotatably mounted idler rollers positioned parallel to and spaced from the said other rollers but nearer to the first roller; the web entering between said third and fourth rollers where it contacts the third roller, then straddles the first roller and leaves between said third and fourth rollers where it contacts the fourth roller, and said mechanism including means to hold the web taut.

3. The mechanism as defined in claim 2, including means to releasably stop the first roller at a position where one of its teeth is within a space in the second roller, from further rotation in the direction it revolves while the web is moving.

4. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, including means to releasably stop the first roller at a position where one of its teeth is within a space in the second roller, from further rotation in the direction it revolves while the web is moving.

5. The mechanism as defined in claim 1, including a means to hold the web taut, means adapted to allow cessation of the movement of the web when the first roller is held against movement in the direction it rotates while the web is moving, means to perform an operation on the web while the latter is at rest, including a reciprocably mounted member opposite and normally spaced from a stationary member and movable towards and away from said stationary member means to move said reciprocable member; said web resting against said stationary member and positioned between said members; said operation being performed on the web during the movement of and at least in part by said reciprocable member, means to reciprocate said reciprocable member, means to releasably stop said first roller from further rotation when a tooth on the first roller is within the space provided therefor in the second roller and a means operated in a predetermined relation by said means which moves the reciprocable member, to operate the stop means at least while the reciprocable member is in contact with the web and then to release the first roller.

6. The mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein the means to stop the first roller from further rotation comprises a solenoid having an armature, an element on the first roller, an element associated with said armature whereby when the armature is in one position, said elements cooperate to stop the first roller, and when at another position, said elements separate thereby releasing said first roller, a circuit for operating said solenoid and a switch interposed in said circuit; the means for moving said reciprocable member, controlling said switch.

7. The mechanism as defined in claim 6, wherein the means for performing an operation on the web is a press for punching a series of equi-spaced holes along the web before said web reaches the first roller for its teeth to engage newly punched holes in said web; said press being so spaced from the first roller that all successive holes made in the web are equidistant and suitably spaced to be successively entered respectively by the teeth on said first roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,971 1/06 Palmer 84-436 1,852,419 4/32 Kuchenmeister 226- 85 1,860,330 5/32 Rogers 226-84 1,965,578 7/34 Colquhoun 226l52 1,973,839 9/34 Zenner 226152 2,147,223 2/39 Vergobbi 226-152 2,928,312 3/60 Helvey et al 22664 3,112,055 11/63 Hartley 226156 FOREIGN PATENTS 27,468 12/30 Australia. 725,993 3/55 Great Britain.

LEON PEAR, Primary Examiner.

HUNTER C. BOURNE, 1a., Examiner. 

1. FOR AN APPARATUS WHICH IS LONGITUDINALLY MOVING A WEB HAVING EQUI-SPACED PERFORATIONS THEREALONG, FIRST AND SECOND REVOLVABLY MOUNTED, PARALLEL IDLER ROLLERS, MEANS ASSOCIATING SAID ROLLERS WHEREBY ON THE ROTATION OF THE FIRST ROLLER, THE SECOND WILL ALSO ROTATE; SAID WEB BEING BETWEEN SAID ROLLERS AND RESTING AGAINST THE FIRST ROLLER; SAID FIRST ROLLER BEING CYLINDRICAL AND HAVING TEETH EQUISPACED THEREAROUND WHEREBY SAID FIRST ROLLER SERVES AS A SPROCKET WHOSE TEETH SLIDABLY FIT IN HOLES IN SAID WEB AS THE WEB MOVES ALONG; THE SECOND ROLLER HAVING SPACES THEREIN TO RECEIVE SAID TEETH AS SAID ROLLER ROTATE; THE PERIPHERY OF THE SECOND ROLLER INCLUDING LONGITUDINAL SEGMENTS OF ONE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE; SAID SPACES TO RECEIVE SAID TEETH, BEING IN SAID SEGMENTS RESPECTIVELY; THE REMAINDER OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SECOND ROLLER BEING INWARD OF SAID ONE CYLINDRICAL SURFACE; THE WEB BEING ENGAGED BY SAID ROLLERS AS IT WOULD BE BY NIP ROLLERS, ONLY WHEN IT IS CONTACTED BY A SEGMENT, WHEREBY THE WEB IS MAINTAINED SO THAT EVERY HOLE THEREIN HAVING A TOOTH OF THE SPROCKET THERETHROUGH, REMAINS UNCHANGED IN SIZE AND SHAPE. 